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Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association members honored for their work
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By Ra'Vae Edwards
redwards@newstribune.com
For more than 30 years, Darryl “Cutter” Hartung would not talk about the time he served in combat during the Vietnam War. But an encounter with the Vietnam Moving Wall in 2001 changed his life.
On Saturday, Cutter was one of 18 members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association honored by the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program at the Ike Skelton Training Site in Jefferson City.
Cutter serves as the commander of the southern Missouri chapter, which he joined shortly after his experience with the Moving Wall less than a month after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Although Cutter said he never planned to see the Wall, when he heard of its visit to Camden County he felt the urge to volunteer.
“I couldn't look at the panels,” he said. “I just picked them up and moved them. I blocked everything for years and I wouldn't talk about it. But something drew me to the Wall and I stayed with it almost day and night for 10 days.”
It was during that 10-day period that Cutter met a fellow veteran who was a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. Within a short period of time, Cutter purchased a motorcycle and joined the group.
Since then, like the many other members in the United States, Cutter has spent numerous hours working to help other veterans in need.
“This is the best therapy I've ever had,” Cutter said. “I have been to the VA hospitals and talked to a psychologist but that didn't help me as much as this. Being a part of this group has really pulled me out of my shell.”
The motorcycle group has members from all branches of service. Their goal each year is to raise money to help other veterans. Among the many things they do each year, Cutter said they donate money to various veterans homes and cemeteries and they offer a helping hand to homeless veterans, assist with Christmas items and do other things to serve the men and women who have served their country.
“We are all combat veterans,” Cutter said. “Veterans helping veterans, that's just what we do. There are 58,000 brothers and sisters listed on the Moving Wall and that's why we all do this - for them - because they can't.”
The members recognized in Saturday's ceremony include: Richard Coates, Archie Devers, Lewis Jones, Richard Jones, Phillip King, Jerry Larabee, Gerald McCallister, Kenneth Pesce, John Ray, John Russell, James Stokes, James West, Lindall Baker, Darryl Hartung, Carl Jacobus Sr., George Johnson, Terrence Voss, Victor Weaver and Joe Garrett.
For more information about the motorcycle association, visit the Web site at www.combatvet.org. For more information about the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program, visit the Web site at www.moguard.com.
On Saturday, Cutter was one of 18 members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association honored by the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program at the Ike Skelton Training Site in Jefferson City.
Cutter serves as the commander of the southern Missouri chapter, which he joined shortly after his experience with the Moving Wall less than a month after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Although Cutter said he never planned to see the Wall, when he heard of its visit to Camden County he felt the urge to volunteer.
“I couldn't look at the panels,” he said. “I just picked them up and moved them. I blocked everything for years and I wouldn't talk about it. But something drew me to the Wall and I stayed with it almost day and night for 10 days.”
It was during that 10-day period that Cutter met a fellow veteran who was a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. Within a short period of time, Cutter purchased a motorcycle and joined the group.
Since then, like the many other members in the United States, Cutter has spent numerous hours working to help other veterans in need.
“This is the best therapy I've ever had,” Cutter said. “I have been to the VA hospitals and talked to a psychologist but that didn't help me as much as this. Being a part of this group has really pulled me out of my shell.”
The motorcycle group has members from all branches of service. Their goal each year is to raise money to help other veterans. Among the many things they do each year, Cutter said they donate money to various veterans homes and cemeteries and they offer a helping hand to homeless veterans, assist with Christmas items and do other things to serve the men and women who have served their country.
“We are all combat veterans,” Cutter said. “Veterans helping veterans, that's just what we do. There are 58,000 brothers and sisters listed on the Moving Wall and that's why we all do this - for them - because they can't.”
The members recognized in Saturday's ceremony include: Richard Coates, Archie Devers, Lewis Jones, Richard Jones, Phillip King, Jerry Larabee, Gerald McCallister, Kenneth Pesce, John Ray, John Russell, James Stokes, James West, Lindall Baker, Darryl Hartung, Carl Jacobus Sr., George Johnson, Terrence Voss, Victor Weaver and Joe Garrett.
For more information about the motorcycle association, visit the Web site at www.combatvet.org. For more information about the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program, visit the Web site at www.moguard.com.
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JCNewscrasher wrote on Jun 23, 2008 5:38 AM: